On the management of social risks of hydraulic infrastructure projects in China: A case study

•Social risk management is important for the implementation of infrastructures.•A case study approach is utilized to identify the social risks.•A systematical response plan is made to mitigate and control social risks.•Key measures are proposed for the management of social risks of infrastructures.

With social risk management attracting more attention in China, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council released the “Guidance (trial) on Establishing a Sound Social Risk Assessment Mechanism”. It is mandated that all infrastructure projects must pass social risk assessment prior to the project implementation. However, social risk management is in its infancy and has not formed a unified paradigm in China. In this paper, with an aim to explore how to manage social risks of infrastructure projects, particularly during the process of urbanization, a case study was undertaken on the identification of social risks based on an in-depth investigation of a hydraulic project. Related stakeholders were recognized in the first instance, followed by the assessment of social risks based on observations, expert meetings, interviews and discussion forums. Response plans were developed to prevent, mitigate and cope with the potential consequences of social risk events that may occur before or during the implementation process. The findings of this paper may provide a reference to the social risk management of future infrastructures.